Hydraulic swivel



Dec. 4, 1923.

H. M. HARRIS ET AL HYDRAULI C S WIVEL Filed Feb. 20. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EMEWIE w J 4 Dec. 4 1923. 1,475,993

H. M. HARRIS ET AL HYDRAULIC SWIVEL Filed Feb. 20. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet z Patented Dec. 4, I923.

HU M. HARRIS AND VICTOR W. ZILEN, 0F CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGN'ORS TO LUCEY, MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, A COB- ]PORATION OF. TENNESSEE.

HYDRAULIC SWIVEL.

Application filed February 20, 1922. Serial No. 537,867.

description of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to well drilling apparatus used in connection with the mud laden fluid system of drilling wherein a mud ladened fluid is circulated down through the drill stem to the bottom of the hole being bored and then upward between the exterior of the stem and the wall of the hole. this method of drilling possessing several advantages, the principal one of which being that the drill cuttings are carried up with the circulating fluid so as to wall up the well. More particularly the invention relates to that portion of the apparatus known as the swivel by which the'drill stem, etc., is connected to the suspension cable.

One object of the invention is to provide a connection between the drill stem and the suspension cable that will permit of the free rotation of the stem without twisting the cable.

Anotherobject is to provide means whereby the apparatus may be used in connection with a hollow drill stem through which the mud ladened fluid is conducted from a source of supply to the point of the drill, or drill bit, secured to the lower end of the drill stem and in which the connection for supplying the mud ladened fluid to the drill stem may be supported in a given position and retained against movement with respect to the drill stem when the latter is in operation.

Another object consists in having the main bearing of the stem housed in alubricant containing chamber and providing means for effectually excluding the mud-ladened fluid conducted to the stem, as well as other foreign substances. from the lubricant chamher and main bearings.

Since the abrasive properties of the mud ladened fluid are very destructive, a further object of the invention is to so construct the mud fluid conductor pipe joints-and packing glands as well as the joints and packing glands of the lubricating system, as to direct the leaks resulting from natural deterioration of the parts to the outside away from the lubricant chamber and main bearings with the result that such leaks will not damage the working parts before they can be detected and Stopped. I

Another object is to increase the simplicity and accessibility of the various parts, particularly the packing glands, as well as to increase the ease with which the necessary repairs and renewals can be made.

As a heavy, revolving load is imposed on the swivel, a. further object of the invention is to appreciably increase the strength of the same, this being accomplished by embedding in the body of the swivel, which is of cast material and of low physical value for the resistance of tremendous stresses, the suspension cradle which is of a metal of relatively high value, such as forged steel, for resisting bending stresses. With such a construction there is obtained an economical construction of-reliable value for sustaining the heavy loads imposed.

In the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a swivel embodying the several features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the swivel, showing the lubricant chamber. the connection for supplying the mud ladened fluid to the conductor pipe, and the various other parts;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the lower portion of the swivel showing the coupling member for connecting the drill stem to the swivel; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the swivel comprises a body portion 10 of cast metal and as it is necessary for the swivel to support heavy revolving loads the cast metal body is reinin, by casting it in, a cradle or cross-head sisting bending stresses, forged steel for instance; and is provided with trunnions 12 of the same material for suspension of the swivel from the bail 13. The trunnions 12 are formed integral with the cradle 11 and project beyond the body 10 of the swivel, the bail 13 being held against displacement from the trunnions by a collar 14 secured in place by screw cap 15. As is understood, the bail 13 is suspended from the hoisting cable, not shown.v

Formed in the upper portion of body 10 is a lubricant containing chamber 16 for the main bearings on which the hollow stem 17 is mounted. Said main bearings consist of a race plate 18 surrounding the stem 17 and fitting tight into the 1 seat formed in the bottom and sides ofthe lubricant chamber 16 and a second race plate 19 fitting tight on the stem 17, a series of anti-friction elements 20, preferably truncated cone bearings, being interposed between thetwo race plates. The stem 17 is formed with a collar 21 at. its upper end that extends over the race plate 19 and, as will later appear, the

weight of the revolving drill stem is supported on the body 10 and through the medium of the anti-friction elements much 'of the friction is eliminated.

Hollow stem 17 extends down through the swivel body 10 and at a point in proximity to the lower end of the body said stem is provided with a series of screw threads for a stop ring 22 to be screwed on the stem. A wearing ring 23 is provided between the stop ring 22 and the bottom face of the swivel body. The object of this arrangement is to keep the anti-friction elements of the main bearing of the stem in chamber 16 in close contact and to take up any lost motion as wear occurs, the stop ring 22 be ing retained in any adjusted position longitudinally of stem 17 by a lock key 24 and a, collar 25. The key 24 is located in a key slot 26 in stem 17 and the head of the key projects beyond the surface of said stem into any one of a series of recesses 27 in the bottom face of the stop ring, forming a positive lock against the. stop rlng working loose. The stop ring is normally locked by the locking key, the latter being retained in its slot by a collar 25 which may be screwed up tight-against the ring 22 or backed ofi' from said ring to permit adjustment of the ring. Both the ring and collar are provided with a series of sockets 28 for the application of a suitable operating tool, such as a socket wrench.

The hollow stem 17 is provided with screw threads at its lower end for the attachment of a coupling member 29 by means of which the drill stem, not shown, is'connected to the swivel, the lower end of said coupling The top is secured on the body by any suitable fastening means such as bolts 31. The mud ladened fluid is conducted through the swivel by a conducting pipe 32 extending through the hollow stem 17 and coupling member 29, the upper end of said conductor pipe projecting through a comparatively arge opening 33 formed centrally of the swivel top 102- The mud ladened fluid is supplied from any suitable source through a goose neck 34 to the conductor pipe 32. To protect against any of the mud ladened fluid entering the lubricant chamber 16, the top'lO of the swivel body around opening 33 is extended upward somewhat and formed into an annular flange 35 having a depression or seat 36 therein. A similar flange 37 is also formed on the adjacent end of goose neck 34 while a third. flange, formed externally of the conductor pipe on the upper projecting end of the latter, is adapted to be secured between the flanges 35, 37 by bolts 39. Suitable gaskets are provided in the recesses 36 in flanges 35 and 37 and as will be apparent, any fluid that might possibly pass between the interior wall of the goose neck and the exterior wall of the upper end of the conductor pipe must neoessarily' flow to the outer edge of flan e 38 on the conductor pipe with little or no likelihood of its flowing back towards the conductor pipe between flanges 38 and 35.

To prevent the loss of lubricant from chamber 16 between the stem 17 and the wall of the opening through the bottom of the swivel body, packing gland 40, and a bushing 41, spaced longitudinally of the stem, with suitable packing between them, are provided in the space around the stem. Gland 40 is located at the bottom of the swivel body 10 and is easily adjusted by simply backing off the collar 24 and ring 22. An inwardly extending recess 42 for grease or other suitable lubricant is formed in the lower portion of body 10 and communicates through a duct 43 with the wear ing ring 23 for sup-plying lubricant thereto. Dead lubricant in the chamber 16 may be drawn off through an opening 44 formed is also interposed between the coupling 1nember29 and the conductor pipe 32,,,.at the lower portion of said coupling member, said packing being retained in place by a packing gland 47 at the lower end of the member 29 and a packing gland 48 a short distance above gland 47. These glands and packing not only'serve for lubricating purposes but they also prevent any of the mud ladened fluid working up between the coupling member or stem and the conductor "In order that the glands 46 and 48 in the coupling member 29 may be' readily accessible for the renewal of the packing or adjustment of the glands themselves, a comparatively large slot or recess 50 is provided in the coupling member extending all the way in to the exterior of pipe 32' and each of said glands is formed with a lateral-projrlzction 51, extending outwardly into said s 0t.

screw threaded bolt 53, pivotally mounted in a recess 54 in the coupling member, extends through between the arms formed in [both projections 51. Each gland projection 51 is engaged by a nut 55'working on bolt 53 whereby movement of the nuts on the bolt will either place the packing under additional pressure or will permit the withdrawal of the-packing glands. The nuts are held in any desired position on the bolt by cotter pins 56 extending through the nuts and engaging one of the arms formed in the bifurcated portions of the gland projections.- The bolt 53 being pivotally mounted, its free end can be removed from the bifurcated gland projections by turning it on its pumps (not shown) is connectedto gooseneck 34 by a union 34 and socket -34 and the drill stem which carries the drill bit at its lower end is connected to the lower The outer extremities of the gland projections are bifurcated, as at 52 and a end of coupling member 29. The drill stem (not shown) passes through the rotary (not shown) above the well for revolving said stem and the entire weight of the latter is held suspended by. the swivelwhich may be raised or lowered by the hoisting cable, .As the drilling progresses the mud fluid'is forced through the conductor pipe and the connecting hollow drill stem by the pumps down to the drill bit and out into the well where it rises to the top carrying the drill cuttings with it. Part returns to the pumps and part remains behind, walling up the well. I

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the flange 38 at the top of the conductor pipe 32 and the secure positioning of said pipe against any movement, the possibility for the leakage of themud ladened' fluid into the lubricant chamber are entirely removed. At the lower end of the pipe 32 most logical means have been provided for the handy and effective packing against leakage of mud fluid from both ends of the stufling box, as when the drill stem is off of the coupling member the packing between glands 47 48 can be-renewed from the bottom while, when the stem is attached to the coupling, the packing can be renewed through slot 50. This accessibility also applies to the stuffing box in the upper portion of the coupling.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a hydraulicswivel, the combination of a swivel body, a swivel stem journaled therein, a conductor pipe, a supplypipe,

ing between the swivel body and conductor pipe, packing between the conductor and supply pipes, said packings being spaced vertically apart, and a laterally disposed deflector interposed between the two packings whereby water escaping through the upper packing will be deflectedoutwardly away from the lower packing.

2. In a hydraulic swivel, the combination with the swivel body having a lubricant chamber therein, of the stem having its upper extremity rotatably mounted within said chamber, a fluid conducting pipe eX- tending from the exterior of the body through said chamber and into the interior of the stem, a connection for supplying fluid to the conductor, the exterior portion of the conductor extending up into the supply connection, a flange on the swivel body, a flange on the fluid conductor, and means for rigidly connecting said flanges, said conductor flange being located below the upwardly extending portion of the conductor and interposed between the supplyconnection and the flange on the swivel body.

3. In a hydraulic swivel, the combination of a swivel body, a swivel stem journaled therein, a conductor pipe, a supply pipe, said conductor pipe extending through the stem andbody into the supply pipe, packing between the swivel body and conductor pipe, packing between the conductor and supply pipes, said pat-kings being spaced vertically apart, and a laterally projecting flange on the conductor pipe interposed be tween the two packings whereby water escaping through the upper packing will be deflected away from the lower packing.

4. In a hydraulic swivel, the combination with the swivel body having a lubricant chamber therein and there being an .openin in the top of the body communicating witii said chamber, a flange formed on the top of said body surrounding said opening, a fluid conducting pipe extending through said opening and chamber packing between said body and pipe, aflange on said conductor pipe on the exterior of the swivel body overlying said packing, means for connecting said flanges, and a supply pipe connected to the conductor pipe above the conductor flange whereby water escaping through the connection between the conductor and supply pipes will be deflected away from said packing.

5. In a hydraulic swivel, the combination with the swivel body having a lubricant chamber therein and there bein an opening in said body communicating wit 1 said chamber, a hollow stem rotatably mounted within said chamber, a fluid conducting pipe extending from the exterior of the swivel body through said opening and chamber and intothestem, and a flange formed integral with said conductor pipe adapted toclose the opening in the swivel body, and a supply pipe connected to the conductor pipe above said-integral flan e.

6. In a hydraulic swivel, the combination with. the swivel body having a lubricant chamber therein, a hollow stem rotatably mounted within the lubricant chamber, a mud-ladened fluid conducting pipe eXtending from the exterior of the swivel body into said chamber and hollow stem, a supply pipe connected to said conductor pipe above the lubricant chamber and on the exterior of the swivel body, and means formed on said conductor pipe for excluding the mud ladened fluid from the lubricant (ll-amber.

7. In a hydraulic swivel, the combination with the swivel body having a lubricant chamber therein, ahollow stem rotatably mounted within the lubricant chamber, a mud-ladened fluid conducting pipeextending from the exterior of the swivel body into the chamber and stem, a'supply pipe connected to the conductor pipe above the chamber and on the exterior of the swivel body, means on said-pipe below the supply and conductor pipe connection for excluding the mud-ladened' fluid from the lubricant stem below the swivel body for adjusting the anti-friction elements to compensate for wear on said elements.

9. In a swivel, the combination with the swivel body having a lubrican chamber therein, a stem having its upper end rotatably mounted within said chamber, and anti-frictional elements within said chamber for said stem comprising raceways in the chamber and bearings between said race- Wt ys, an enlargement on the stem positioned against one of the raceways, and means on the stem for adjusting said stem and enlargement to take up wear on the anti-friction elements.

10. In a swivel, the combination with the swivel body having a lubricant chamber therein, a stem having its upper end rotatably mounted within said chamber, antifriction elements within the chamber for the stem comprising raceways in the swivel body and bearings between the raceways, an abutment on the stem positioned against one of the raceways, and means carnied by the stem:

andengageable with the swivel body for adjusting the stem and abutment. to take up wear on the anti-friction elements.

11. In a swivel, the combination with the swivel body having a lubricant chamber therein, a stem having its upper end rotatably mounted within said chamber, antifriction elements within the chamber for the stem comprising raceways in the swivel. body, and bearin s interposed between said raceways, means elow the swivel body for adjusting said raceways towards each other to compensate for wear on the anti-friction elements, and means for locking said adjustin means in adjusted position.

12. n a hydraulic swivel, the combination of the swivel body having a lubricant chamber therein, a hollow stem having its upper end rotatably mounted in said chamber and projecting below the swivel body, a fluid conducting pipe extending through the hollow stem and spaced from the interior wall of said stem, the lower end of said conductor pipe projecting beyond the lower end of the stem, a coupling member carried by the stem and surroundingthe conducting pipe, packing glands between said conductor and the coupling member and between said conductor pipe and the stem, and means carried by the coupling member for adjusting said glands.

13. In a hydraulic swivel, a hollow stem rotatably mounted in the swivel body, a

Mes es fluid conductin pipe extending through the hollow stem an projecting beyond the lower end thereof, said conductor being spaced from the interior. Wall of the stem, a coupling member connected to the hollow stem and surrounding the fluid conductor, said glands being accessible th ough the recess in the coupling member, and adjusting means carried by the coupling member for a positioning the packing glands,

' 14. In a hydraulic swivel, the combination of a hollow stem rotatably mounted in the swivel body, a fluid conducting. pipe extending throu h the hollow stem and projecting beyon the lower end thereof, said conductor pipe being spaced from the interior wall of the stem, a couplingtjmember connected to the stem and. surrounding the conductor pipe, said coupling member having a recess therein extending inwardly to the conductor pipe wall; packing glands interposed between the hollow stem and conductor pipe and between the conductor pipe and coupling member, a projection on each of said glands projecting into the recess in the coupling member, a screw threaded bolt mounted on the coupling member and extending through the gland projections, and nuts on said bolt engaging the gland prov jections for adjustably positioning, the glands.

. 15. In a hydraulic swivel, the oolnbination withthe hollow stem rotatably mountedin the swivelbody, a fluid conducting pipe extendin through the stem and projecting beyon the lower end thereof, said conductor pipe being spaced from the interior wall of the stem, a coupling-member connected to the stem and surrounding the conductor pipe, said coupling having a recess therein extending. inwardly to the wall of the conductor pipe, packing glands interposed between the conductor pipe and coupling member and between the conductor pipe and stem, a projection on each gland extending into the recess in the coupling member, each of said gland projections hav-, ing a slot therein, a screw threaded bolt carried by the coupling member and extendtions, and nuts on the bolt. en aging the gland projections wherb the g ands may be adjustably positione said bolt being pivotally mounted .on the coupling member whereby it may be disengaged from the gland projections.

16. swivel body of the character described comprising a cast body and a cradle or cross head of relatively great stren h embedded in said swivel body and provi ed with trunnions projecting beyond the exterior of the swivel bodyi HU HARRIS. VICTOR W. ZILEN.

.55 ing through the slots in the gland projec- 

